The BBC's political editor and economics editor are 'not mates'

One is among the most respected political reporters in Westminster, the other a king of economic journalism.

But it appears the rivalry between BBC heavyweights Nick Robinson and Robert Peston extends beyond the newsroom after the former revealed the pair are "not mates".

Robinson, the BBC's political editor, spoke of the "assertive" nature they both share, fuelling rumours of a long-standing battle between the two over whose story gets top billing on the corporation's news programmes.

Speaking about Peston, the BBC's economics editor, Robinson told The Sunday Times (£): "We're not mates. He's not part of my social circle.

It is not the first time Peston has been involved in a clash of personalities with a BBC newsman.

In 2011, a feud erupted between the veteran broadcaster and news presenter Eddie Mair during a long piece on banker bonuses on Radio 4's PM programme.

Mair had read out the morning's newspaper headlines, from the FT to the Times, all declaring the Government was in retreat on bonuses.

But Peston became annoyed that Mair had ignored his own "scoop" on the same story the week before and told him so.

Mair then sniped back that Peston had forgotten to turn off his mobile phone.

"I should slightly point out that I did actually disclose last Thursday that the Government had chucked in the towel on trying to restrict bonuses, but plainly PM takes the view that if it's in the newspapers it must be true," he said.

Mair replied: "Oh Robert, I've let you down, I feel bad and I'd like to apologise ... I won't mention the fact that you just turned your mobile phone off after it rang."

The row continued to rumble for another year until the pair buried the hatchet on another episode of the PM programme.